第1章

MyUncleMakesaDiscoveryLOOKINGbacktoallthathasoccurredtomesincethateventfulday，Iamscarcelyabletobelieveintherealityofmyadventures。TheyweretrulysowonderfulthatevennowIambewilderedwhenIthinkofthem。

MyunclewasaGerman，havingmarriedmymother"ssister，anEnglishwoman。Beingverymuchattachedtohisfatherlessnephew，heinvitedmetostudyunderhiminhishomeinthefatherland。Thishomewasinalargetown，andmyuncleaprofessorofphilosophy，chemistry，geology，mineralogy，andmanyotherologies。

Oneday，afterpassingsomehoursinthelaboratory-myunclebeingabsentatthetime-Isuddenlyfeltthenecessityofrenovatingthetissues-i。e。，Iwashungry，andwasabouttorouseupouroldFrenchcook，whenmyuncle，ProfessorVonHardwigg，suddenlyopenedthestreetdoor，andcamerushingupstairs。

NowProfessorHardwigg，myworthyuncle，isbynomeansabadsortofman；heis，however，cholericandoriginal。Tobearwithhimmeanstoobey；andscarcelyhadhisheavyfeetresoundedwithinourjointdomicilethanheshoutedformetoattenduponhim。

"Harry-Harry-Harry-"

Ihastenedtoobey，butbeforeIcouldreachhisroom，jumpingthreestepsatatime，hewasstampinghisrightfootuponthelanding。

"Harry!"hecried，inafrantictone，"areyoucomingup?"

Nowtotellthetruth，atthatmomentIwasfarmoreinterestedinthequestionastowhatwastoconstituteourdinnerthaninanyproblemofscience；tomesoupwasmoreinterestingthansoda，anomelettemoretemptingthanarithmetic，andanartichokeoftentimesmorevaluethananyamountofasbestos。

Butmyunclewasnotamantobekeptwaiting；soadjourningthereforeallminorquestions，Ipresentedmyselfbeforehim。

Hewasaverylearnedman。Nowmostpersonsinthiscategorysupplythemselveswithinformation，aspeddlersdowithgoods，forthebenefitofothers，andlayupstoresinordertodiffusethemabroadforthebenefitofsocietyingeneral。Notsomyexcellentuncle，ProfessorHardwigg；hestudied，heconsumedthemidnightoil，heporedoverheavytomes，anddigestedhugequartosandfoliosinordertokeeptheknowledgeacquiredtohimself。

Therewasareason，anditmayberegardedasagoodone，whymyuncleobjectedtodisplayhislearningmorethanwasabsolutelynecessary:hestammered；andwhenintentuponexplainingthephenomenaoftheheavens，wasapttofindhimselfatfault，andalludeinsuchavaguewaytosun，moon，andstarsthatfewwereabletocomprehendhismeaning。Totellthehonesttruth，whentherightwordwouldnotcome，itwasgenerallyreplacedbyaverypowerfuladjective。

Inconnectionwiththesciencestherearemanyalmostunpronounceablenames-namesverymuchresemblingthoseofWelshvillages；andmyunclebeingveryfondofusingthem，hishabitofstammeringwasnottherebyimproved。Infact，therewereperiodsinhisdiscoursewhenhewouldfinallygiveupandswallowhisdiscomfiture-inaglassofwater。

AsIsaid，myuncle，ProfessorHardwigg，wasaverylearnedman；andInowaddamostkindrelative。Iwasboundtohimbythedoubletiesofaffectionandinterest。Itookdeepinterestinallhisdoings，andhopedsomedaytobealmostaslearnedmyself。Itwasararethingformetobeabsentfromhislectures。Likehim，I

preferredmineralogytoalltheothersciences。Myanxietywastogainrealknowledgeoftheearth。Geologyandmineralogyweretousthesoleobjectsoflife，andinconnectionwiththesestudiesmanyafairspecimenofstone，chalk，ormetaldidwebreakwithourhammers。

Steelrods，loadstones，glasspipes，andbottlesofvariousacidswereoftenerbeforeusthanourmeals。MyuncleHardwiggwasonceknowntoclassifysixhundreddifferentgeologicalspecimensbytheirweight，hardness，fusibility，sound，taste，andsmell。

Hecorrespondedwithallthegreat，learned，andscientificmenoftheage。Iwas，therefore，inconstantcommunicationwith，atalleventsthelettersof，SirHumphryDavy，CaptainFranklin，andothergreatmen。

ButbeforeIstatethesubjectonwhichmyunclewishedtoconferwithme，Imustsayawordabouthispersonalappearance。Alas!myreaderswillseeaverydifferentportraitofhimatafuturetime，afterhehasgonethroughthefearfuladventuresyettoberelated。

Myunclewasfiftyyearsold；tall，thin，andwiry。Largespectacleshid，toacertainextent，hisvast，round，andgoggleeyes，whilehisnosewasirreverentlycomparedtoathinfile。Somuchindeeddiditresemblethatusefularticle，thatacompasswassaidinhispresencetohavemadeconsiderableN(Nasal)deviation。

Thetruthbeingtold，however，theonlyarticlereallyattractedtomyuncle"snosewastobacco。

Anotherpeculiarityofhiswas，thathealwayssteppedayardatatime，clenchedhisfistsasifheweregoingtohityou，andwas，wheninoneofhispeculiarhumors，veryfarfromapleasantcompanion。

Itisfurthernecessarytoobservethathelivedinaverynicehouse，inthatverynicestreet，theKonigstrasseatHamburg。Thoughlyinginthecenterofatown，itwasperfectlyruralinitsaspect-

halfwood，halfbricks，withold-fashionedgables-oneofthefewoldhousessparedbythegreatfireof1842。

WhenIsayanicehouse，Imeanahandsomehouse-old，tottering，andnotexactlycomfortabletoEnglishnotions:ahousealittleofftheperpendicularandinclinedtofallintotheneighboringcanal；

exactlythehouseforawanderingartisttodepict；allthemorethatyoucouldscarcelyseeitforivyandamagnificentoldtreewhichgrewoverthedoor。

Myunclewasrich；hishousewashisownproperty，whilehehadaconsiderableprivateincome。Tomynotionthebestpartofhispossessionswashisgod-daughter，Gretchen。Andtheoldcook，theyounglady，theProfessorandIwerethesoleinhabitants。

Ilovedmineralogy，Ilovedgeology。Tometherewasnothinglikepebbles-andifmyunclehadbeeninalittlelessofafury，weshouldhavebeenthehappiestoffamilies。ToprovetheexcellentHardwigg"simpatience，Isolemnlydeclarethatwhentheflowersinthedrawing-roompotsbegantogrow，heroseeverymorningatfouro"clocktomakethemgrowquickerbypullingtheleaves!

Havingdescribedmyuncle，Iwillnowgiveanaccountofourinterview。

Hereceivedmeinhisstudy；aperfectmuseum，containingeverynaturalcuriositythatcanwellbeimagined-minerals，however，predominating。Everyonewasfamiliartome，havingbeencataloguedbymyownhand。Myuncle，apparentlyobliviousofthefactthathehadsummonedmetohispresence，wasabsorbedinabook。Hewasparticularlyfondofearlyeditions，tallcopies，anduniqueworks。

"Wonderful!"hecried，tappinghisforehead。"Wonderful-wonderful!"

Itwasoneofthoseyellow-leavedvolumesnowrarelyfoundonstalls，andtomeitappearedtopossessbutlittlevalue。Myuncle，however，wasinraptures。

Headmireditsbinding，theclearnessofitscharacters，theeasewithwhichitopenedinhishand，andrepeatedaloud，halfadozentimes，thatitwasvery，veryold。

Tomyfancyhewasmakingagreatfussaboutnothing，butitwasnotmyprovincetosayso。Onthecontrary，Iprofessedconsiderableinterestinthesubject，andaskedhimwhatitwasabout。

"ItistheHeims-KringlaofSnorreTarleson，"hesaid，"thecelebratedIcelandicauthorofthetwelfthcentury-itisatrueandcorrectaccountoftheNorwegianprinceswhoreignedinIceland。"

Mynextquestionrelatedtothelanguageinwhichitwaswritten。

IhopedatalleventsitwastranslatedintoGerman。Myunclewasindignantattheverythought，anddeclaredhewouldn"tgiveapennyforatranslation。HisdelightwastohavefoundtheoriginalworkintheIcelandictongue，whichhedeclaredtobeoneofthemostmagnificentandyetsimpleidiomsintheworld-whileatthesametimeitsgrammaticalcombinationswerethemostvariedknowntostudents。

"AboutaseasyasGerman?wasmyinsidiousremark。

Myuncleshruggedhisshoulders。

"Thelettersatallevents，"Isaid，"areratherdifficultofcomprehension。"

"ItisaRunicmanuscript，thelanguageoftheoriginalpopulationofIceland，inventedbyOdinhimself，"criedmyuncle，angryatmyignorance。

Iwasabouttoventureuponsomemisplacedjokeonthesubject，whenasmallscrapofparchmentfelloutoftheleaves。LikeahungrymansnatchingatamorselofbreadtheProfessorseizedit。Itwasaboutfiveinchesbythreeandwasscrawledoverinthemostextraordinaryfashion。

Thelinesshownhereareanexactfacsimileofwhatwaswrittenonthevenerablepieceofparchment-andhavewonderfulimportance，astheyinducedmyuncletoundertakethemostwonderfulseriesofadventureswhicheverfelltothelotofhumanbeings。(Seeillustration。)

MyunclelookedkeenlyatthedocumentforsomemomentsandthendeclaredthatitwasRunic。Thelettersweresimilartothoseinthebook，butthenwhatdidtheymean?ThiswasexactlywhatIwantedtoknow。

NowasIhadastrongconvictionthattheRunicalphabetanddialectweresimplyaninventiontomystifypoorhumannature，IwasdelightedtofindthatmyuncleknewasmuchaboutthematterasIdid-whichwasnothing。Atalleventsthetremulousmotionofhisfingersmademethinkso。

"Andyet，"hemutteredtohimself，"itisoldIcelandic，Iamsureofit。"

Andmyuncleoughttohaveknown，forhewasaperfectpolyglotdictionaryinhimself。Hedidnotpretend，likeacertainlearnedpundit，tospeakthetwothousandlanguagesandfourthousandidiomsmadeuseofindifferentpartsoftheglobe，buthedidknowallthemoreimportantones。

Itisamatterofgreatdoubttomenow，towhatviolentmeasuresmyuncle"simpetuositymighthaveledhim，hadnottheclockstrucktwo，andouroldFrenchcookcalledouttoletusknowthatdinnerwasonthetable。

"Botherthedinner!"criedmyuncle。

ButasIwashungry，Isalliedforthtothediningroom，whereI

tookupmyusualquarters。OutofpolitenessIwaitedthreeminutes，butnosignofmyuncle，theProfessor。Iwassurprised。Hewasnotusuallysoblindtothepleasureofagooddinner。ItwastheacmeofGermanluxury-parsleysoup，ahamomelettewithsorreltrimmings，anoysterofvealstewedwithprunes，deliciousfruit，andsparklingMoselle。Forthesakeofporingoverthismustyoldpieceofparchment，myuncleforboretoshareourmeal。Tosatisfymyconscience，Iateforboth。

Theoldcookandhousekeeperwasnearlyoutofhermind。Aftertakingsomuchtrouble，tofindhermasternotappearatdinnerwastoherasaddisappointment-which，assheoccasionallywatchedthehavocIwasmakingontheviands，becamealsoalarm。Ifmyuncleweretocometotableafterall?

Suddenly，justasIhadconsumedthelastappleanddrunkthelastglassofwine，aterriblevoicewasheardatnogreatdistance。Itwasmyuncleroaringformetocometohim。Imadeverynearlyoneleapofit-soloud，sofiercewashistone。

CHAPTER2

TheMysteriousParchment"IDECLARE，"criedmyuncle，strikingthetablefiercelywithhisfist，"IdeclaretoyouitisRunic-andcontainssomewonderfulsecret，whichImustgetat，atanyprice。"

Iwasabouttoreplywhenhestoppedme。

"Sitdown，"hesaid，quitefiercely，"andwritetomydictation。"

Iobeyed。

"Iwillsubstitute，"hesaid，"aletterofouralphabetforthatoftheRunic:wewillthenseewhatthatwillproduce。Now，beginandmakenomistakes。"

Thedictationcommencedwiththefollowingincomprehensibleresult:

mm。rnllsesreuelseecJdesgtssmfunteiefniedrkekt，samnatrateSSaodrrnemtnaeInuaectrrilSaAtvaar。nscrcieaabsccdrmieeutulfrantudt，iacoseiboKediiY

Scarcelygivingmetimetofinish，myunclesnatchedthedocumentfrommyhandsandexamineditwiththemostraptanddeepattention。

"Ishouldliketoknowwhatitmeans，"hesaid，afteralongperiod。

Icertainlycouldnottellhim，nordidheexpectmeto-hisconversationbeinguniformlyansweredbyhimself。

"Ideclareitputsmeinmindofacryptograph，"hecried，"unless，indeed，thelettershavebeenwrittenwithoutanyrealmeaning；andyetwhytakesomuchtrouble?WhoknowsbutImaybeonthevergeofsomegreatdiscovery?"

Mycandidopinionwasthatitwasallrubbish!ButthisopinionI

keptcarefullytomyself，asmyuncle"scholerwasnotpleasanttobear。Allthistimehewascomparingthebookwiththeparchment。

"Themanuscriptvolumeandthesmallerdocumentarewrittenindifferenthands，"hesaid，"thecryptographisofmuchlaterdatethanthebook；thereisanundoubtedproofofthecorrectnessofmysurmise。[AnirrefragableproofItookittobe。]ThefirstletterisadoubleM，whichwasonlyaddedtotheIcelandiclanguageinthetwelfthcentury-thismakestheparchmenttwohundredyearsposteriortothevolume。"

Thecircumstancesappearedveryprobableandverylogical，butitwasallsurmisetome。

"Tomeitappearsprobablethatthissentencewaswrittenbysomeownerofthebook。Nowwhowastheowner，isthenextimportantquestion。Perhapsbygreatgoodluckitmaybewrittensomewhereinthevolume。"

WiththesewordsProfessorHardwiggtookoffhisspectacles，and，takingapowerfulmagnifyingglass，examinedthebookcarefully。

Ontheflyleafwaswhatappearedtobeablotofink，butonexaminationprovedtobealineofwritingalmosteffacedbytime。

Thiswaswhathesought；and，aftersomeconsiderabletime，hemadeouttheseletters:

(Seeillustration。)

"ArneSaknussemm!"hecriedinajoyousandtriumphanttone，"thatisnotonlyanIcelandicname，butofalearnedprofessorofthesixteenthcentury，acelebratedalchemist。"

Ibowedasasignofrespect。

"Thesealchemists，"hecontinued，"Avicenna，Bacon，Lully，Paracelsus，werethetrue，theonlylearnedmenoftheday。Theymadesurprisingdiscoveries。MaynotthisSaknussemm，nephewmine，havehiddenonthisbitofparchmentsomeastoundinginvention?I

believethecryptographtohaveaprofoundmeaning-whichImustmakeout。"

Myunclewalkedabouttheroominastateofexcitementalmostimpossibletodescribe。

"Itmaybeso，sir，"Itimidlyobserved，"butwhyconcealitfromposterity，ifitbeauseful，aworthydiscovery?"

"Why-howshouldIknow?DidnotGalileomakeasecretofhisdiscoveriesinconnectionwithSaturn?Butweshallsee。UntilI

discoverthemeaningofthissentenceIwillneithereatnorsleep。"

"Mydearuncle-"Ibegan。

"Noryouneither，"headded。

ItwasluckyIhadtakendoubleallowancethatday。

"Inthefirstplace，"hecontinued，"theremustbeacluetothemeaning。Ifwecouldfindthat，therestwouldbeeasyenough。"

Ibeganseriouslytoreflect。Theprospectofgoingwithoutfoodandsleepwasnotapromisingone，soIdeterminedtodomybesttosolvethemystery。Myuncle，meanwhile，wentonwithhissoliloquy。

"Thewaytodiscoveritiseasyenough。Inthisdocumentthereareonehundredandthirty-twoletters，givingseventy-nineconsonantstofifty-threevowels。Thisisabouttheproportionfoundinmostsouthernlanguages，theidiomsofthenorthbeingmuchmorerichinconsonants。Wemayconfidentlypredict，therefore，thatwehavetodealwithasoutherndialect。"

Nothingcouldbemorelogical。

"NowsaidProfessorHardwigg，"totracetheparticularlanguage。"

"AsShakespearesays，"thatisthequestion，""wasmyrathersatiricalreply。

"ThismanSaknussemmhecontinued，"wasaverylearnedman:nowashedidnotwriteinthelanguageofhisbirthplace，heprobably，likemostlearnedmenofthesixteenthcentury，wroteinLatin。If，however，Iprovewronginthisguess，wemusttrySpanish，French，Italian，Greek，andevenHebrew。Myownopinion，though，isdecidedlyinfavorofLatin。"

Thispropositionstartledme。Latinwasmyfavoritestudy，anditseemedsacrilegetobelievethisgibberishtobelongtothecountryofVirgil。

"BarbarousLatin，inallprobability，"continuedmyuncle，"butstillLatin。"

"Veryprobably，"Ireplied，nottocontradicthim。

"Letusseeintothematter，"continuedmyuncle；"hereyouseewehaveaseriesofonehundredandthirty-twoletters，apparentlythrownpell-melluponpaper，withoutmethodororganization。Therearewordswhicharecomposedwhollyofconsonants，suchasmm。rnlls，otherswhicharenearlyallvowels，thefifth，forinstance，whichisunteief，andoneofthelastoseibo。Thisappearsanextraordinarycombination。Probablyweshallfindthatthephraseisarrangedaccordingtosomemathematicalplan。Nodoubtacertainsentencehasbeenwrittenoutandthenjumbledup-someplantowhichsomefigureistheclue。Now，Harry，toshowyourEnglishwit-

whatisthatfigure?"

Icouldgivehimnohint。Mythoughtswereindeedfaraway。WhilehewasspeakingIhadcaughtsightoftheportraitofmycousinGretchen，andwaswonderingwhenshewouldreturn。

Wewereaffianced，andlovedoneanotherverysincerely。Butmyuncle，whoneverthoughtevenofsuchsublunarymatters，knewnothingofthis。Withoutnoticingmyabstraction，theProfessorbeganreadingthepuzzlingcryptographallsortsofways，accordingtosometheoryofhisown。Presently，rousingmywanderingattention，hedictatedonepreciousattempttome。

Imildlyhandeditovertohim。Itreadasfollows:

mmessunkaSenrA。icefdoK。segnittamurtnecertserrette，rotaivsadua，ednecsedsadnelacartniiilrJsiratracSarbmutabiledmekmeretarcsilucoYsleffenSnI

Icouldscarcelykeepfromlaughing，whilemyuncle，onthecontrary，gotinatoweringpassion，struckthetablewithhisfist，dartedoutoftheroom，outofthehouse，andthentakingtohisheelswaspresentlylosttosight。

CHAPTER3

AnAstoundingDiscoveryWHATisthematter?"criedthecook，enteringtheroom；"whenwillmasterhavehisdinner?"

"Never。"

"And，hissupper?"

"Idon"tknow。Hesayshewilleatnomore，neithershallI。Myunclehasdeterminedtofastandmakemefastuntilhemakesoutthisabominableinscription，"Ireplied。

"Youwillbestarvedtodeath，"shesaid。

Iwasverymuchofthesameopinion，butnotlikingtosayso，sentheraway，andbegansomeofmyusualworkofclassification。

ButtryasImight，nothingcouldkeepmefromthinkingalternatelyofthestupidmanuscriptandoftheprettyGretchen。

SeveraltimesIthoughtofgoingout，butmyunclewouldhavebeenangryatmyabsence。Attheendofanhour，myallottedtaskwasdone。

Howtopassthetime?Ibeganbylightingmypipe。Likeallotherstudents，Idelightedintobacco；and，seatingmyselfinthegreatarmchair，Ibegantothink。

Wherewasmyuncle?Icouldeasilyimaginehimtearingalongsomesolitaryroad，gesticulating，talkingtohimself，cuttingtheairwithhiscane，andstillthinkingoftheabsurdbitofhieroglyphics。Wouldhehituponsomeclue?Wouldhecomehomeinbetterhumor?Whilethesethoughtswerepassingthroughmybrain，Imechanicallytookuptheexecrablepuzzleandtriedeveryimaginablewayofgroupingtheletters。Iputthemtogetherbytwos，bythrees，fours，andfives-

invain。Nothingintelligiblecameout，exceptthatthefourteenth，fifteenth，andsixteenthmadeiceinEnglish；theeighty-fourth，eighty-fifth，andeighty-sixth，thewordsir；thenatlastIseemedtofindtheLatinwordsrota，mutabile，ira，nec，atra。

"Ha!thereseemstobesometruthinmyuncle"snotion，thoughtI。

ThenagainIseemedtofindthewordluco，whichmeanssacredwood。TheninthethirdlineIappearedtomakeoutlabiled，aperfectHebrewword，andatthelastthesyllablesmere，are，mer，whichwereFrench。

Itwasenoughtodriveonemad。Fourdifferentidiomsinthisabsurdphrase。Whatconnectioncouldtherebebetweenice，sir，anger，cruel，sacredwood，changing，mother，are，andsea?Thefirstandthelastmight，inasentenceconnectedwithIceland，meanseaofice。Butwhatoftherestofthismonstrouscryptograph?

Iwas，infact，fightingagainstaninsurmountabledifficulty；mybrainwasalmostonfire；myeyeswerestrainedwithstaringattheparchment；thewholeabsurdcollectionoflettersappearedtodancebeforemyvisioninanumberofblacklittlegroups。Mymindwaspossessedwithtemporaryhallucination-Iwasstifling。Iwantedair。MechanicallyIfannedmyselfwiththedocument，ofwhichnowI

sawthebackandthenthefront。

Imaginemysurprisewhenglancingatthebackofthewearisomepuzzle，theinkhavinggonethrough，IclearlymadeoutLatinwords，andamongotherscrateremandterrestre。

Ihaddiscoveredthesecret!

Itcameuponmelikeaflashoflightning。Ihadgottheclue。Allyouhadtodotounderstandthedocumentwastoreaditbackwards。AlltheingeniousideasoftheProfessorwererealized；hehaddictateditrightlytome；byamereaccidentIhaddiscoveredwhathesomuchdesired。

Mydelight，myemotionmaybeimagined，myeyesweredazzledandI

trembledsothatatfirstIcouldmakenothingofit。Onelook，however，wouldtellmeallIwishedtoknow。

"Letmeread，"Isaidtomyself，afterdrawingalongbreath。

Ispreaditbeforemeonthetable，Ipassedmyfingerovereachletter，Ispelleditthrough；inmyexcitementIreaditout。

Whathorrorandstupefactiontookpossessionofmysoul。Iwaslikeamanwhohadreceivedaknock-downblow。WasitpossiblethatIreallyreadtheterriblesecret，andithadreallybeenaccomplished!Amanhaddaredtodo-what?

Nolivingbeingshouldeverknow。

"Never!"criedI，jumpingup。"Nevershallmyunclebemadeawareofthedreadsecret。Hewouldbequitecapableofundertakingtheterriblejourney。Nothingwouldcheckhim，nothingstophim。Worse，hewouldcompelmetoaccompanyhim，andweshouldbelostforever。Butno；suchfollyandmadnesscannotbeallowed。"

Iwasalmostbesidemyselfwithrageandfury。

"Myworthyuncleisalreadynearlymad，"Icriedaloud。"Thiswouldfinishhim。Bysomeaccidenthemaymakethediscovery；inwhichcase，wearebothlost。Perishthefearfulsecret-lettheflamesforeverburyitinoblivion。"

Isnatchedupbookandparchment，andwasabouttocastthemintothefire，whenthedooropenedandmyuncleentered。

Ihadscarcelytimetoputdownthewretcheddocumentsbeforemyunclewasbymyside。Hewasprofoundlyabsorbed。Histhoughtswereevidentlybentontheterribleparchment。Somenewcombinationhadprobablystruckhimwhiletakinghiswalk。

Heseatedhimselfinhisarmchair，andwithapenbegantomakeanalgebraicalcalculation。Iwatchedhimwithanxiouseyes。Myfleshcrawledasitbecameprobablethathewoulddiscoverthesecret。

HiscombinationsIknewnowwereuseless，Ihavingdiscoveredtheoneonlyclue。Forthreemortalhourshecontinuedwithoutspeakingaword，withoutraisinghishead，scratching，rewriting，calculatingoverandoveragain。Iknewthatintimehemusthitupontherightphrase。Thelettersofeveryalphabethaveonlyacertainnumberofcombinations。Butthenyearsmightelapsebeforehewouldarriveatthecorrectsolution。

Stilltimewenton；nightcame，thesoundsinthestreetsceased-

andstillmyunclewenton，notevenansweringourworthycookwhenshecalledustosupper。

Ididnotdaretoleavehim，sowavedheraway，andatlastfellasleeponthesofa。

WhenIawokemyunclewasstillatwork。Hisredeyes，hispallidcountenance，hismattedhair，hisfeverishhands，hishecticallyflushedcheeks，showedhowterriblehadbeenhisstrugglewiththeimpossible，andwhatfearfulfatiguehehadundergoneduringthatlongsleeplessnight。Itmademequiteilltolookathim。Thoughhewasratherseverewithme，Ilovedhim，andmyheartachedathissufferings。Hewassoovercomebyoneideathathecouldnotevengetinapassion!Allhisenergieswerefocusedononepoint。AndI

knewthatbyspeakingonelittlewordallthissufferingwouldcease。Icouldnotspeakit。

Myheartwas，nevertheless，incliningtowardshim。Why，then，didIremainsilent?Intheinterestofmyunclehimself。

"Nothingshallmakemespeak，"Imuttered。"Hewillwanttofollowinthefootstepsoftheother!Iknowhimwell。Hisimaginationisaperfectvolcano，andtomakediscoveriesintheinterestsofgeologyhewouldsacrificehislife。IwillthereforebesilentandstrictlykeepthesecretIhavediscovered。Torevealitwouldbesuicidal。

Hewouldnotonlyrush，himself，todestruction，butdragmewithhim。"

Icrossedmyarms，lookedanotherwayandsmoked-resolvednevertospeak。

Whenourcookwantedtogoouttomarket，oronanyothererrand，shefoundthefrontdoorlockedandthekeytakenaway。Wasthisdonepurposelyornot?SurelyProfessorHardwiggdidnotintendtheoldwomanandmyselftobecomemartyrstohisobstinatewill。Werewetobestarvedtodeath?Afrightfulrecollectioncametomymind。

Oncewehadfedonbitsandscrapsforaweekwhilehesortedsomecuriosities。Itgavemethecrampeventothinkofit!

Iwantedmybreakfast，andIsawnowayofgettingit。Stillmyresolutionheldgood。Iwouldstarveratherthanyield。Butthecookbegantotakemeseriouslytotask。Whatwastobedone?Shecouldnotgoout；andIdarednot。

Myunclecontinuedcountingandwriting；hisimaginationseemedtohavetranslatedhimtotheskies。Heneitherthoughtofeatingnordrinking。Inthiswaytwelveo"clockcameround。Iwashungry，andtherewasnothinginthehouse。Thecookhadeatenthelastbitofbread。Thiscouldnotgoon。Itdid，however，untiltwo，whenmysensationswereterrible。Afterall，Ibegantothinkthedocumentveryabsurd。Perhapsitmightonlybeagigantichoax。Besides，somemeanswouldsurelybefoundtokeepmyunclebackfromattemptinganysuchabsurdexpedition。Ontheotherhand，ifhedidattemptanythingsoquixotic，Ishouldnotbecompelledtoaccompanyhim。

Anotherlineofreasoningpartiallydecidedme。VerylikelyhewouldmakethediscoveryhimselfwhenIshouldhavesufferedstarvationfornothing。Undertheinfluenceofhungerthisreasoningappearedadmirable。Ideterminedtotellall。

Thequestionnowaroseastohowitwastobedone。Iwasstilldwellingonthethought，whenheroseandputonhishat。

What!gooutandlockusin?Never!

"Uncle，"Ibegan。

Hedidnotappeareventohearme。

"ProfessorHardwigg，"Icried。

"What，"heretorted，"didyouspeak?"

"Howaboutthekey?"

"Whatkey-thekeyofthedoor?

"No-ofthesehorriblehieroglyphics?

Helookedatmefromunderhisspectacles，andstartedattheoddexpressionofmyface。Rushingforward，heclutchedmebythearmandkeenlyexaminedmycountenance。Hisverylookwasaninterrogation。

Isimplynodded。

Withanincredulousshrugoftheshoulders，heturneduponhisheel。

UndoubtedlyhethoughtIhadgonemad。

"Ihavemadeaveryimportantdiscovery。"

Hiseyesflashedwithexcitement。Hishandwasliftedinamenacingattitude。Foramomentneitherofusspoke。Itishardtosaywhichwasmostexcited。

"Youdon"tmeantosaythatyouhaveanyideaofthemeaningofthescrawl?"

"Ido，"wasmydesperatereply。"Lookatthesentenceasdictatedbyyou。"

"Well，"butitmeansnothing，"wastheangryanswer。

"Nothingifyoureadfromlefttoright，butmark，iffromrighttoleft-"

"Backwards!"criedmyuncle，inwildamazement。"OhmostcunningSaknussemm；andItobesuchablockhead!"

Hesnatchedupthedocument，gazedatitwithhaggardeye，andreaditoutasIhaddone。

Itreadasfollows:

InSneffelsYoculiscrateremkemdelibatumbraScartarisJuliiintracalendasdescende，audasviator，etterrestrecentrumattinges。

Kodfeci。ArneSaknussemmWhichdogLatinbeingtranslated，readsasfollows:

DescendintothecraterofYoculofSneffels，whichtheshadeofScartariscaresses，beforethekalendsofJuly，audacioustraveler，andyouwillreachthecenteroftheearth。Ididit。

ARNESAKNUSSEMM

Myuncleleapedthreefeetfromthegroundwithjoy。Helookedradiantandhandsome。Herushedabouttheroomwildwithdelightandsatisfaction。Heknockedovertablesandchairs。Hethrewhisbooksaboutuntilatlast，utterlyexhausted，hefellintohisarmchair。

"What"so"clock?"heasked。

"Aboutthree。"

"Mydinnerdoesnotseemtohavedonememuchgood，"heobserved。

"Letmehavesomethingtoeat。Wecanthenstartatonce。Getmyportmanteauready。"

"Whatfor?"

"Andyourown，"hecontinued。"Westartatonce。"